Highway signal



Dec, 21, 1948.

J. E. WATERS HIGHWAY SIGNAL Filed-Feb. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. WATERS HIGHWAY SIGNAL Dec. 21, 1948;

Filed Feb. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR) JESSE EWATERS ATTORNEYS.

I Patented Dec. 1, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIGHWAY SIGNAL Jesse E. Waters, Pratt, Kans. Application February 1'7, 1948,, Serial No. 8,980

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a highway signal.

An'object of the invention is to provide an efficient highway signal that is admirably adapted to warn motorists that they are approaching a railroad crossing.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a highway signal which can be easily discerned by a motorist in time for stopping before he crosses a railroad track in the event of the approach of a locomotive on the track.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of an eiiicient highway signal that can be adjusted to meet the conditions of a roadway or a highway, and which mechanism can be easily repaired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of efficient bumpers in a highway signal, which will warn the motorist in the event he does not notice the sign or signal that is part of the mechanism. I

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more par-- ticularly pointed out infthe appended claims.

' In the drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a highway signal constructed'in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation, and partly in vertical section, of the highway signal constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevated edge or end View of the highway signal; i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectionalview of the highway signal, taken through the vertical casing thereof.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal and sectional view, taken on line 55, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6B, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-1, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a vertical, central sectional view of one of the rubber bumpers or signals.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, I designates a vertical, cylindrical metal casing which is mounted, or secured to, a platform 2, which platform is suitably secured upon a concrete base 3. The casing is thin, thereby saving material when constructing my invention. A pole 4 fills the casing and extends down through casing I and into the concrete base 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This pole or core 4 increases the stability and strength of the mechanism by producing a comparatively rigid support for easing I.

The casing l is provided throughout its height and on one side with two integral parallel flanges 5, each having an inturned lip 6, Fig. 6. By inturning the lipt a vertically-extending slot 1 (Fig. 6) is produced.

Near the upper end of the casing I and between the parallel flanges 5 is mounted pulley 8,'Fig. 4.

. Achain guide 9 is mounted on the parallel lips 5 just under pulley 8. This chain guide is provided with an eye If] and side arms I I, Fig. 5.

Slidably mounted only between the flanges 5 is an elongated weight I2. The weight I2 is provided on its upper end with an eye I3 to which is secured one end of a chain i4. Chain I4 is passed over pulley 8 and then threaded through the eye ID of the chain guide 9, extending down to easy reach of the operator.

The overhanging bracket I5 of the mechanism comprises an upper horizontal section I6 and a lower horizontal section IT. This bracket I5 is formed from one piece of material, such as a stiff wire or rod, and is bent into the form shown, with its inner ends preferably extending intojthe weight I2, whereby the overhanging bracket I5 is securely mounted upon said weight I2. The overhanging bracket l5'projects through slot 1,

between the inturned lips 6. A suitable sign or signal I8 may be hung upon the upper section I6,

Fig. 2, or may be suspended from the lower section N, Fig. 1. On this sign or signal I8 may be exposed any warning such as R. R. I

When the operator wishes to place the overhanging bracket I5 in its Warning position, Fig.

tween the flanges 1, all he has to do is to pull downward on chain 14, whereby the weight I2 is 51m upwardly 'be- 5, 5, and then by placinghook I9, Fig. 1, in one of the links of chain I4, the overhanging bracket I5 will be retained in its adjusted position.

To positively lock the overhanging bracket in its adjusted position, the weight I2 is provided with an aperture 20, Fig. 4, and when this aperture registers with one of the sets of registering apertures 2|, on parallel flanges 5, the pin 22 is inserted in these registering apertures, whereupon the weight and its overhanging bracket I5 is retained in an adjusted position, even though chain I4 is unhooked from the hook l9. The pin 22 may be bent over at one end, as shown, to prevent said pin from becoming accidentally displaced.

Rubber bumpers or signals 23 are provided, suspended from the lower section I! (Fig. 2), with the sign 3 suspended from the upper seclow rubbergrcasing 24;: in the upperiend on rubber casing 24 there is mounted an anchor wife 25 which extends beyond the upper end of said hanging bracket secured to said weight.

G,.i32ialn a highway signal, the combination with a rubber casing 24, Fig. 8. In attaching each rubber bumper 23 to section I! of the overhangin bracket l5, the upper end of the bumpenisJaid partly around section H with the exposed end of the anchor wire 25 alsoi'zwrappedaaroundzsection H and pressed tight upon such section, thereby compressin part of the rubb'er'tasihg, formin an excellent grip, as Well as the grip obtained'by the 'outer eridof the anchor wire 25.

In thisnovel manneref #attaching means i's prom added for preventing: the rubber =-bumper 1 from sliding ":alongJsecti'on H; the rubberibu-mper is fixedly secured in-the position-selectedibythecom #s-tructor or operator of the highway signal.

H aaAs shown in Fig. :2, when thecareless: operator of the motor vehicle does not heed, or.- doesan'ot see ":the sign with the .:R." R1? thereomxthensh e will ealize hisi danger bys.thexlowerzyends of the A ubbei: bumpers ..hittin the'topor; cab :of the .vmotorvehiclem Thesea-bumpersflt willagive excellent results without injury .toithezmotonvehicle. By.-;reason of the: adl'ustabili-tyuof thezoverangingibracket: I 5; ,repairwork, ,asjl'well as ad.- ust-ment, can-be easily obtainedimerelyz'b the operatorwithdrawing pin 2-2,;unhooking-chain M from; hook i9, -where,upon .ther -weight 42- will assist inlowering the overhanging-bracket; as the -perat0r desires. Thea; mechanism being substantially-.5.con-

.- structed, by reason of; employin argreat amount of metallic substance in its -:construc.tion, will give vexcellent results, as-well .asshaving a lon life.

' While I have described the. preferred embod i-, :mentpf my; invention. and illustrated the ,same in :theaccompanying-h.drawings, .certain.,,minor ,changes or alterations mayappean to ondskilled b 4111 theart to which-this inyentionrelatesduring the extensivev manufacture of the,.same,, and'I, therefore, reserve the. right .tQmakesHch changes I 'or alterationsfas-jshall fairly falLwithi-n the scope of the appended claims.

What Iclaim is: I

1. In a;highway signal, the,,combinationaof-ta metallic casing open at bothe,nds,.a,pole .extending, downthroughahd filling said lcasing,;.-said i vcasing provided witha pairxof outwardlyrextending parallel. lianges,..a.1 pulleysmountedbetween ,-.said.fianges and positionedneantheir uppen ends,

, said flanges having inwardly-extending.. lips producingja. slot there. between, a lchainigguide .mounted .upon saidfianges, saidlchain'guidepro- ,v-ided ,with an eye, said? ohainmlguidel positioned 4 beneath said pulley, a sliding weight only between said parallel flanges, said weight provided on its upper end with an eye, a flexible lifting member attached to said eye of the Weight and passed 5 partly around said pulley and threaded through said eye of said chain guide, said flanges provided with sets of registering apertures, said sliding weight provided with an aperture being adapted tionv LBMEachrubber bumperun. comprises aholtoregistehwith either-,onepithesets of said aperciiutures ,en saichflangeszi a ipinz in ofieiof; the sets of mvconcrete, base of considerable depth, a platform "onsaidbase, of a thin metallic casing, open at its dower; endz-upomsaid platform, said metallic casing bein ,open at its upper end, a non-metallic pole ent'ending through the top of said casing and through the bottom aof said casing, said pole extending tatv itswl'ower: end-La:considerableeedistance u into 'zsaidnconcnetell,baseyzzwhereby asaidccasing is In:so;2portedurr.1a igidacondition,-;sai:casi.ng-D .izv'idfid :onc; onezsisideii'withr parallekanges, tsaid flanges extending to said platform; ,weightposimotioned onlyibetween said ifianeeszandsslidably naginga-samazsaid:lflangesvprovidedz sets of .1registeringnapentures; :saidewei htwpmvide :"With In :anvapertuneiadaptedatozre i r Nitnsaidse of registe ing-apertures ionesaid ';fia nges,-; -a-,- i

ten inglthro eh one, seteofiapcrmres an th'm hasaid aperture pnssa'id, Weight; and arbracket :JSESl-IIIQQJO; (san weight and extending outwardly g beyond: saidqparallelfianges. 3. In a, highway signal, the com inationtof a :casing .ag'polewentirely .ijilling saidzcasing, and extendingabelow, the; bottom. :Ofn .said; casing, said 1casinggprovidedgon its sidewith, -integral weight ,v-.,e,nc1 osing,. flanges, a, ;weight.,. enclosed by, said 0 flanges and slidably engaging same, means for manuallyadjusting said w eight,,. and .a sign carryabraeketextending fromsaid weight.

4..,In;. highway signal, the; combination (of a .3.; no-mmetallicepole, .a ,c.oncrete.inundation; enclosingra ,[considerable partsof; the. lower portion of said',pole;said,po1e provideidiwit'h aitightlyiitting casing," said casing provided ,oILits sidewith' out- ,yvardly, ,extendin ,weight-,enclosing, flanges, a Wei ht Within. said flan es on1y,.,means for, manu'ally'adjusting' said weight, and a sign-carrying A ,bracketextendin jrnm, said weight.

J ESSETE; WATERS.

' REFERENCES CITED IUINI IKED STATESZBATENTS 

